Formulaic Hollywood Rom-Com, But...
Every Valentine's day geek guys have to suck it up and watch a boring, predictable romantic comedy with their beau. So if you're going to have to suffer through it, allow us to suggest Failure to Launch.
Now, make no mistake Failure to Launch is as inane, predictable, and unrealistic as the rest of its ilk, however it differs in one major respect: the guys are geeks; extremely idealized female fan-service type geeks that look like Matthew McConaughey, but geeks nonetheless. They love paintball, videogames, and don't care that they live in their parents' basements.
Matthew McConaughey plays Trip (O.K., so they are pretty Preppy geeks), who lives with his parents (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw who practically steal the show). The parents hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) who is an "interventionist" to help them get him out of the house.
The supporting cast really helps carry the film. In addition to Bradshaw and Bates, comedians Rob Corddry and Patton Oswalt play the other two "basement" guys, and geek girl extraordinaire, Zooey Deschanel, plays Paula's roommate Kit.
And while there's all the standard Rom-Com cliches here, there's a twist on the single most annoying convention of the genre: the pivotal scene where the guy has to grovel and profess his undying love to get the girl back.
And while there's all the standard Rom-Com cliches here, there's a twist on the single most annoying convention of the genre: the pivotal scene where the guy has to grovel and profess his undying love to get the girl back.
So we're not recommending this as a genuinely good movie, but rather one that's bearable enough to get from the Netflix to the Chill on Valentine's Day.
